The use of parks by dog walkers is encouraged and recognised by Council as creating a positive sense of community if conducted in a responsible manner.

Signposts have been installed in parks highlighting areas in which dogs can be exercised on and off leash. Some off leash areas operate on a time-share basis, meaning you can only exercise your dog off leash between designated hours each day or when organised sporting or training activities are not taking place.

Dog walkers must ensure their dog is under effective control at all times and does not become a nuisance or impede on the enjoyment of other park users. Dog walkers must clean up and properly dispose their dog's faeces.

Where you cannot take your dog

Please remember that dogs are not allowed on or off leash in the following places:

Inside a children's play area, or within 10 metres of one

Within 10 metres of a food preparation/consumption area

Recreation areas where dogs are prohibited

School grounds

Child care centres

Shopping areas where dogs are prohibited

Wildlife protection areas

Here is a list of parks in the local area with off-leash dog exercise areas, sorted by suburb:

Annandale

Cohen Park

Hudson Street and Hutchinson Lane, Annandale

Cohen Park is available for leash-free dog exercise EXCEPT during organised sporting games, training and events, when dogs must be on a leash. Dogs are not permitted in the fenced court areas.

Smith Hogan and Spindlers Park

Taylor Street (adjacent to Johnstons Creek), Annandale

A designated area of the park (between the bridge near Taylor Street and the underpass at The Crescent) is available for leash-free dog exercise at any time of the day EXCEPT when organised sporting activites are taking place, at which time dogs must be on a leash. Dogs are not permitted within 10 metres of the children's playground area.

Whites Creek Valley Park

Piper Street, Annandale

A designated area on the eastern side of Whites Creek Valley Park – bound by Whites Creek, Piper Street, Smith Street and Wisdom Street – is available for leash-free dog exercise any time of the day. Dogs must remain on a leash outside of this area. Dogs are not permitted in the small separate section adjacent to Arguimbau Street.

Balmain

Ann Cashman Reserve

Elliot, Beattie and Lawson Streets

Ann Cashman Reserve is available for leash-free dog exercise between the hours of 4pm and 10am during non-daylight savings time, and 5pm and 10am during daylight savings time, weekends and public holidays. Dogs must remain on a leash outside of these times. Dogs are not permitted within 10 metres of the children's playground area.

Birrung Park

Donnelly Street

A designated area of Birrung Park is available for leash-free dog exercise at any time of the day.

Elkington Park

Glassop Street

A designated area of Elkington Park – the north-western section between Tilba Avenue and White Horse Point – is available for leash-free dog exercise at any time of the day. The rest of the park is available for leash-free dog exercise between the hours of 4pm and 10am during non-daylight savings time, and 5pm and 10am during daylight savings time, weekends and public holidays. Dogs must remain on a leash outside of these times. Dogs are not permitted within 10 metres of the children's playground area.

Ewenton Park

Grafton Street and Jubilee Place

Ewenton Park is available for leash-free dog exercise between the hours of 4pm and 10am during non-daylight savings time, and 5pm and 10am during daylight savings time, weekends and public holidays. Dogs must remain on a leash outside of these times.

Illoura Reserve

Weston Street

A designated area of Illoura Reserve – the grassed area between the playground and Peacock Point – is available for leash-free dog exercise at any time of the day. Dogs are not permitted within 10 metres of the children's playground area.

Lookes Avenue Reserve

Lookes Avenue

Lookes Avenue Reserve is available for leash-free dog exercise at any time of the day.

Paringa Reserve

Elliot Street

A designated area of Paringa Reserve is available for leash-free dog exercise at any time of the day.

Propeller Park

The Avenue

A designated area of Propeller Park (the grassed area between Hart Street and Gilchrist Place) is available for leash-free dog exercise at any time of the day. Dogs must remain on a leash outside of this area.

Punch Park and Vanardi Green

Wortley, Reynolds and Foy Streets

A designated area of Punch Park is available for leash-free dog exercise at any time of the day EXCEPT when organised sporting activities are taking place, at which time dogs must be on a leash. Dogs must remain on a leash outside of this area. Dogs are not permitted in the children's playground and tennis courts.

Birchgrove

Birchgrove Park

The Terrace, Louisa Road and Grove Street

A designated area of Birchgrove Park – around the sporting ground area and north of The Terrace – is available for leash-free dog exercise at any time of the day. Dogs are not permitted within 10 metres of the playground, or within the fenced sporting ground perimeter. Dogs must remain on a leash outside of these areas.

Mort Bay Park

Church, Cameron and Mort Streets

A designated area of Mort Bay Park is available for leash-free dog exercise at all times (refer to the attached map for the exact area). Outside of this area, and within the Village Green when community events are taking place, dogs must remain on a leash. Dogs are not permitted within 10 metres of the children's playground.

Camperdown

O'Dea Reserve

Accessible via Ross Street, Cardigan Lane and Salisbury Lane

O'Dea Reserve contains a fenced area available for leash-free dog exercise any time of the day.

Croydon

Bede Spillane Reserve (next to Centenary Sports Field), Croydon

Queen Street and Croydon Road

Fenced area between Croydon Road and the Wests Sports car park is available for leash-free dog exercise any time of the day.

Dulwich Hill

Johnson Park

Constitution Road

The Johnson Park off-leash trial ran for six months and finished at the end of April 2017. Council conducted an evaluation of the trial and invited input from park users and local residents. Following the recommendation of the evaluation report, the trial off-leash area was made permanent in July 2017.

A designated area of Johnson Park is available for leash-free dog exercise between the hours of 6am to 9am and 5pm to 7pm (6pm to 8pm during daylight savings). Dogs must be kept on leash at all other times.

The on-site signage indicates where dogs are permitted on leash, off leash or prohibited (see the image linked below).

Dulwich Hill and parts of the inner west are home to an endangered and protected population of long-nosed bandicoots. Council aims to balance dog owners' needs to exercise and socialise their dogs with the requirement to protect bandicoots that are under threat from dogs, cats and foxes. The time restriction on off-leash dog exercise could potentially minimise conflicts with other park users and the endangered bandicoot population.

Enmore

Enmore TAFE Park

Sarah Street and Simmons Street

The entire Enmore TAFE Park contains a fenced area available for leash-free dog exercise at any time of the day.

Leichhardt

36th Battalion Park

MacKenzie and Hill Streets

The southern half of 36th Battalion Park (the open grassy part) is available for leash-free dog exercise at all times. Dogs must remain on a leash outside of this area. Dogs are not permitted within 10 metres of the children's playground.

Blackmore Park

Canal Road

The sporting ground area of Blackmore Park is available for leash-free dog exercise at all times EXCEPT during organised sporting games, training and events, when dogs must be on a leash. Dogs must remain on a leash outside of the sporting ground area.

Hawthorne Canal Reserve

Canal and Darley Roads

Hawthorne Canal Reserve is a popular park for dog owners and dogs alike to socialise and meet new friends. A dog-friendly café, Café Bones, is located on site.

A designated area of Hawthorne Canal Reserve – bounded by Hawthorne Canal, the light rail pathway and canal bridge, the light rail line, and the car parking area on Canal Road – is available for leash-free dog exercise at all times. Dogs must remain on a leash outside of this area. Dogs are not permitted within 10 metres of the children's playground.

Pioneers Memorial Park

Norton Street

The eastern area of Pioneers Memorial Park is available for leash-free dog exercise at all times (refer to the attached map for the exact area). Dogs must remain on a leash in the western area of the park. Dogs are not permitted within 10 metres of the children's playground.

War Memorial Park

Moore and Catherine Streets

The southern area of War Memorial Park is available for leash-free dog exercise at all times (refer to the attached map for the exact area). Dogs must remain on a leash in the northern area of the park. Dogs are not permitted within 10 metres of the children's playground.

Lewisham

Morton Park

New Canterbury Road and Gould Avenue

The Morton Park off-leash trial ran for six months and finished at the end of April 2017. Council conducted an evaluation of the trial and invited input from park users and local residents. Following the recommendation of the evaluation report, the trial off-leash area was made permanent in July 2017.

A designated area of Morton Park is available for leash-free dog exercise at all times. The on-site signage indicates where dogs are permitted on leash, off leash or prohibited (see image below for details).

Lilyfield

Balmain Road Sporting Ground, Callan Park

The sporting ground is available for leash-free dog exercise at all times EXCEPT during organised sporting games, training and events, when dogs must be on a leash.

Glover Street Sporting Ground, Callan Park

Glover Street

The sporting ground is available for leash-free dog exercise at all times EXCEPT during organised sporting games, training and events, when dogs must be on a leash.

Leichhardt Oval No. 2

Glover Street

The sporting ground is available for leash-free dog exercise at all times EXCEPT during organised sporting games, training and events, when dogs must be on a leash. Dogs must remain on a leash at all times in the surrounding parkland, including the Bay Run.

Leichhardt Oval No. 3

Maliyawul Street, adjacent to the Bay Run

The sporting ground is available for leash-free dog exercise at all times EXCEPT during organised sporting games, training and events, when dogs must be on a leash. Dogs must remain on a leash at all times in the surrounding parkland, including the Bay Run. Dogs are not permitted within 10 metres of the children's playground.

Marrickville

Enmore Park

Enmore Road, Llewellyn Street and Black Street

A designated area – bound by Llewellyn Street and the two diagonal paths leading inwards from each corner of that side of the park – is available for leash-free dog exercise any time of the day. Dogs must remain on a leash outside of this area.

Henson Park

Woodland Street and Amy Street

A designated area on the eastern side of Henson Park is available for leash-free dog exercise any time of the day, except during official match play when dogs must remain on a leash.

HJ Mahoney Reserve (trial until July 2017)

Wharf Street

Dogs are allowed off leash on the sportsground at all times except when in use for organised sports training and match play (see the image of the on-site signage for details). When the sportsground is in use, dogs must be kept on a leash. A waste bag dispenser has also been installed to support the trial .

The trial will be in operation until the end of July 2017 (in order to include input from winter season sports users) followed by an evaluation process, the outcomes of which will be reported to Council to determine a longer term position.

The trial off-leash area will remain in place until a longer term position is taken by Council following the evaluation process.

Marrickville Park

A designated area on the eastern side of Marrickville Park is available for leash-free dog exercise any time of the day. Dogs must remain on a leash outside of this designated area.

McNeilly Park

Warburton Street

A designated area is available for leash-free dog exercise any time of the day. Dogs must remain on a leash outside of this designated area.

Newtown

Camperdown Memorial Rest Park

Federation Road and Church Street

A designated area bound by Federation Road, Church Street, the St Stephens Church wall and the diagonal path leading from the church boundary to Federation Road is a timed off leash dog exercise area 24 hours a day on weekdays, and between the hours of 5pm and 9am daylight savings time and 4pm and 9am non-daylight savings time on weekends. Dogs must be on a leash in all other areas of the park at all times.

Petersham

Petersham Park

Brighton, Wentworth, West and Station Street

The trial of the timed off-leash area at Petersham Park ran for six months and finished at the end of April 2017. Council conducted an evaluation of the trial and invited input from park users and local residents. Following the recommendation of the evaluation report, the trial off-leash area was made permanent in July 2017.

A designated area on the southern side of Petersham Park – adjacent to Wentworth Street and Brighton Street – is available for leash-free dog exercise any time of the day.

An additional designated area is available for leash-free dog exercise between the hours of 6am to 9am and 4pm to 6pm (5pm to 8pm during daylight savings).

Dogs must remain on a leash in the area surrounding the vintage bandstand, the children's playground and the entrance to the Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre. Dogs are not permitted at any time on the sports field, or within 10 metres of the children's playground.

The on-site signage indicates where dogs are permitted on leash, off leash or prohibited (see the image linked below).

Petersham and parts of the inner west are home to an endangered and protected population of long-nosed bandicoots. Council aims to balance dog owners' needs to exercise and socialise their dogs with the requirement to protect bandicoots that are under threat from dogs, cats and foxes. The time restriction on off-leash dog exercise in part of the park in could potentially minimise conflicts with other park users and the endangered bandicoot population.

Rozelle

Bridgewater Park

Margaret Street, Rozelle

The section of Bridgewater Park between the bay and the sporting ground is available for leash-free dog exercise at all times. The sporting ground area is also available for leash-free dog exercise EXCEPT during organised sporting games, training and events, when dogs must be on a leash. Dogs are not permitted within 10 metres of the children's playground.

Easton Park

Denison Street, Rozelle

The western part of Easton Park – bounded by Lilyfield Road, Denison Street, Burt Street and the path leading to the toilet block – is available for leash-free dog exercise. The sporting ground area is available for leash-free dog exercise EXCEPT during organised sporting games, training and events, when dogs must be on a leash. Dogs are not permitted within the fenced children's playground.

King George Park

Manning Street, Rozelle

The sporting ground areas of King George Park are available for leash-free dog exercise EXCEPT during organised sporting games, training and events, when dogs must be on a leash. Dogs must remain on a leash at all times in the surrounding parkland, including the Bay Run. Dogs are not permitted within the fitness station area, or within 10 metres of the children's playground.

Elliott Park and Balmain Cove, Rozelle – trial off-leash area

Council adopted a motion in May 2018 to implement a trial off leash dog walking area for Elliott Park and Balmain Cove.

The trial is scheduled to commence on 1 June 2018 and will run for six months. The signage will indicate where and when dogs are permitted on leash, off leash or prohibited.

Council will evaluate the trial at the end of the period and invite community feedback during that evaluation process. The outcomes will be reported to Council to determine a longer term position and the existing trial conditions will remain in place until Council makes its decision.

During the trial Council will undertake an assessment of the safety and accessibility of neighbouring townhouses, adjacent to Elliott Park, as per the Council resolution. If there are queries during the trial please email parks@innerwest.nsw.gov.au

Stanmore

Weekley Park

Percival Road, Albany Road and Clarendon Road

A designated area of Weekley Park between Percival Road and the central pedestrian path running down the centre of the park is available between the hours of 5pm and 9am daylight savings time, and 4pm and 9am non-daylight savings time.

Summer Hill

Cadigal Reserve

Grosvenor Crescent

Cadigal Reserve is located adjacent to Hawthorne Canal. The fenced area is available for leash-free dog exercise any time of the day.

Sydenham

Sydenham Green

George Street, Railway Road and Unwins Bridge Road

Sydenham Green contains a fenced area for leash free dog exercise at any time of the day.

An additional designated off leash area – at the corner of Henry Street and Park Road, bound by Park Lane – is available for leash-free dog exercise any time of the day. Dogs must remain on a leash outside of these areas.

Tempe

Tempe Lands

Off South Street, Tempe (up the hill adjacent to the golf driving range)

Tempe Lands contains a fenced area available for leash free dog exercise between the hours of 6am and 9:30pm every day